Handi Hints 1:
Book Up:
The problem of picking things up is a constant challenge for me. Weight, size and shape are just a few of the factors that affect the approach I take. Picking up a dropped book presented a new challenge. After much thought I decided to try some metal strap ties which were left by the contractor who built our garage. They are normally used to make a stronger connection between pieces of wood and can be purchased at a small cost in any local lumber yard. I am sure you could use a piece of thin wood or a thin rigid plastic. My wife tied one end of a piece of string to each end of the strap. The strap I finally used is called a Simpson Strong Tie and measures 1.25” wide and 12” long. To use drag the metal strip into the middle pages of the book until you reach the binding and then lift the book. I outlined the string in yellow to make it more visible. Another easy way to help control a book is to use a loop of string. Open the book and place the loop in the middle of the pages. You can also pick up the book with the hook.
Mini Sliding Board:
The loss of strength in my arms and my lack of grip make it difficult for me at times to control and move objects from one place to another. I often use a mini sliding board when I need to move an item which is difficult to control either because of weight or shape. It is just a flat piece of wood around an eighth of an inch thick, probably 4 inches wide and about 2 feet in length. I place one end of the board under the object I wish to move and the other end on the destination site for instance my lap and then just guide the object across to its destination.
Weighing:
Scales for weighing individuals in a sling are expensive. So I bought a scale for weighing moose and caribou, and it works just fine. Even if your weight may not be exact it can be used to keep track of trends. Cabelas $40
Camera:
Do to impaired hand function it is difficult for me to find the shutter button, which is located on the front of the camera where it is curving away. What I came up with is gluing a buffer wheel from a Dremel tool on the shutter button sideways. It sticks up above the camera frame and is easy to locate.
Grip Enhancer:
Being a person with quadriplegia I have very little strength in my grip. For many activities my hands must be strapped on an object for me to use it effectively. I am constantly looking for an inexpensive material that will enable my hands to better hold onto an object. Often I use friction tape or a product marketed under different brand names advertised as a “strong self adhering bandage that provides firm support and compression during strenuous activities.” It also adheres nicely to a variety of surfaces making those surfaces much easier to hold onto. I buy mine at the local drug store. On the right you can see two tool shafts one with the wrap and one without it. If used on objects which will be exposed to the weather it will only last about a year.
Wheelchair Arms:
It is difficult to believe, given how expensive wheelchairs are, that the arms can be damaged so easily. I received a new chair in May of 2008 and within a few months the arms had to be replaced twice. This problem plagued me even with the original chair I received at the rehabilitation hospital. Finally I decided to replace them myself. I asked my son to cut a one-inch thick piece of lumber the length and width of the arm I was replacing. We then glued a piece of closed cell foam sleeping pad which can be purchased at any store that sells outdoor camping supplies for about $12. We finished the arm off by covering it with black duct tape. When you are done screw the arm back on the frame of the wheelchair using wood screws. Depending on the wear and tear the arm receives the arm must be recovered from time to time. Once we took the arms to an upholsterer who put on a professional looking cover. From then on we had no problems with the chair arms.
